F. VERDASCO/N. Djokovic, 6-2, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Fernando.

Q. What did you do the best today?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: The best? Well, I think just the consistency maybe on the match, like every point. And also, you know, I think I was like tactically playing really good all the match.

Q. What kind of tactic was so good for you?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: Of course, try to take my forehand as much as I can, try to play deep and high for him to don’t make him play easy and inside the court, and move him, no, move him a lot, try to put the points hard and make like long rallies. I think that was my tactic today, no?

Q. What does it mean for you to reach a big final like this?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: Well, I am so happy, no, to be for first time in the finals. It was my first semifinals. And beat a player like Djokovic, playing so good, with a score like it was today, is important for me, no?

I’m so happy to be in the final tomorrow against Nadal. So is a great experience for me and I’m so happy for reach this final here in Monte Carlo.

Q. Which would you say is the best surface? Hard court? Clay?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: Well, I think I always said that I like to play in all surface. You know, of course, in a career, you know, you always have one years or one year that you maybe have better results in clay, then another year better results in hard court.

You know, but I think I was like in this point, in this moment of my career, if you look for all my years behind me, I was like doing good matches in all the surface, no?

Of course, in grass, in Wimbledon, in Queen’s, you only have two or three weeks a year playing on grass, so it’s tough, no? But I think I can play good in all the surface if I have time to get used to the court, no?

But I still like I think more to play in hard court, no, in a court like Indian Wells or like Miami. I think that court, you know, can get my conditions a little bit better.

But I also enjoy, when I play good on clay, I also enjoy playing on clay. So is not hard for me, no, to change the surface.

Q. What is the best surface for you to face Rafael?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: Well, the fastest (laughter). As fast as it is, the matches always get more close, no, because is tougher to make breaks. And I think that he’s the best on clay. So, of course, the clay is the surface that is harder for me to beat Rafa, for to beat Rafa for every player.

If I will play against him, I will choose grass or hard court. But now is clay and I cannot change that. I need to play against him in this moment, in this surface, and in this condition. So I will try to play my best here and try to beat him here.

Q. Some players say the clay here is faster than Indian Wells. Do you believe?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: No. Who said that?

Q. Tsonga.

FERNANDO VERDASCO: That this is faster than Indian Wells?

Q. Yes.

FERNANDO VERDASCO: Well, I dont think so. For me is much faster Indian Wells than this.

Q. This year.

FERNANDO VERDASCO: This year and every year. I think Indian Wells, for be a hard court, is a slow hard court. The ball bounce a lot. But is a little bit of altitude also, and this helps the ball to fly faster. And here you are playing almost in the sea, and clay court. So for me is slower this than Indian Wells and, of course, all the hard court tournaments.

Q. When you look back in your career, do you see the match you lost to Nadal at the Australian Open as your biggest lost opportunity or you see it in a different way?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: Well, like, of course, it was the semifinals of a Grand Slam, so it was the biggest lost of my career.

But also it was, with the Davis Cup in Argentina, the best feelings and the best atmosphere I ever played a match. So, of course, you know, right now and after the match, I was so sad and so upset to lost that match. I was so close. But at the same time if you see the positive way, and the positive side, it was unbelievable, no? Reaching the semifinals, he was No. 1 in the world in that moment, and both of us, we play unbelievable that match. So I think was unbelievable match. The longest on the tournament, you know, in Australian Open. So for me anyways is going to be in my memories ever.

Q. Especially the match point?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: Well, of course. Everything is going to be. But, you know, tomorrow is different match. I play against him after in Rome, in Madrid. So I know is going to be very tough for here tomorrow in final in Monte Carlo. Is my first final of Masters, so I will try to handle the situation as best I can and try to play my best tennis, too, to try to win tomorrow and get the chances, the small chances for sure he will let me. In clay, he don’t give you many chances.

Q. Talk about the condition you were in before that famous match and now. Do you feel you’re in the same shape?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: Which?

Q. The one in Australia. Do you feel as well?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: Is different, I think. There I was playing my best tennis on my career. And also it was hard court. I was injured of my ankle. But the thing was hard court help me to win like much more points free with my serve, and being aggressive, playing flat, going to the net, you know, it was like easier for me to play than here.

Here, in the conditions I was in Australia, I would lost 6-2, 6-2, something like that. Now I’m like physically feeling better. And, you know, I will try, like I said, to play my best tennis tomorrow.

I need to make a perfect match to beat Rafa on clay. So I will try to make this match happen tomorrow.

Q. Do you still go sometimes in Vegas to practice or do physical training with Gil Reyes, the Agassi group?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: No, I go. Now I can’t because I’m in Europe and I don’t have time to be going and coming back. But I was there before Australia, before Indian Wells, and I will be there also before Toronto and before maybe US Open. Before the Asian tour also. In pre season, I will go also there.

I will go, and I will go always all the times is going to be possible for me to go, no? Now I will be here four months in Europe and I will not go there. I will not go there to practice for five days to come here. It’s not worth it.

F. VERDASCO/A. Montanes, 6-3, 6-7⁴, 6-0

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Fernando.

Q.What happened exactly in the second set? You were up, 5-1, match points, then 5-2, match points, then blackout.

FERNANDO VERDASCO: I think, you know, in the first game with my serve, he just play like too very aggressive. These points, he made one inside-out forehand that he almost won the point with that forehand, and then another forehand just like on the line, hitting like all or nothing. He put these two forehands inside.

Then after, of course, you know, I lost that serve. I was just trying to be aggressive, but at the same time without a lot of tactic. He didn’t make mistakes. I try with my serve with 5-3 to win like free points with my serve, but I didn’t make first serves in.

So I think it was a little bit of everything. I tried to be aggressive, and I didn’t put the serve in. I tried to be aggressive with my forehand, and I make mistakes. He played great. He played good after this 5-1. He didn’t make mistakes. He start also to get confidence. I start to lose confidence. He won the second set, I think, because of that.

Q.You said on the court you hit something?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: The wall.

Q.Why?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: I was upset. After 6-3, 5-1 in one hour, be one set all, I was pissed. I was going to the toilet. I hit the wall just to take the adrenaline out a little bit.

Q.Were you thinking on the court of the nine losses you got in the quarters in the Masters Series?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: Of course, I was not thinking that on the court. I was just thinking to win the match. I was not even thinking that it was like quarterfinals.

I thought that when I went to the locker room. After I lost the second set and I was pissed and everything, I started to think that it was, you know, quarterfinals, that I must go again to the court and fight every ball and play good.

So I came back really angry. Maybe outside I didn’t look like that in the court, but I was really angry every point hitting the ball. I didn’t want to lose like one point, no?
So I play better tactically. I play good tactically, but like really angry every time I was hitting the ball. I start to play much better. You know, that’s why I won the third set 6-0.

Q.Tomorrow is going to be your first semifinal in a Masters Series. What does it mean for you?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: Well, it’s important, no? I’m happy to be in semifinals the first time in the Masters. Here also special tournament. Is very, very special tournament here. For me, you know, is nice to be in my first semifinals here in Monte-Carlo.

Q.Have you seen Novak’s match?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: Yeah, I was watching a little bit because I was playing right after. So, yeah, of course.

I think he’s playing better and better every day, getting confidence. You know, he’s a great player. I know that is going to be a tough match tomorrow.

Q.How is your back this week?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: It’s tight a little bit. But, you know, I’m just playing with that. I don’t have another options.

F. VERDASCO/J. Benneteau, 6-2, 6-1

An interview with: FERNANDO VERDASCO

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Fernando.

Q. Julien said he felt like a bull in the bullring on the court today. What is your take on that?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: I don’t know why he say that?

Q. He felt like you were playing around with him.

FERNANDO VERDASCO: Well, I was just try to play my game, try to get used to the clay court as soon as possible, playing deep with spin, like, you know, run and fight, you know, like normally you must play on clay court.

Maybe he was also a little bit tired from yesterday. He have a three set match yesterday, and it was my first match today. So maybe it was a little bit different about that.
But I play good. I play good. I think I did a good match. I don’t know how he felt today. I was feeling good. You know, I was just trying to play my best here and trying to get the level from last year on clay court.

Q. Did you expect to play so well for the first match this week?
FERNANDO VERDASCO: Well, I didn’t make like unbelievable winners, but I played very solid. I didn’t make unforced errors. I made some, but not a lot. And I play good, no? I play like with good style on clay. So, you know, that make me happy, no, with my match.

I was practicing like this. So, you know, my expectations was to play like this, to play the same that I was practicing, not to play worse that I was practicing, no?

So what I didn’t expect is the result. I didn’t expect to win 6-2, 6-1, but I was expecting to play like today.

Q. Do you think that you played Acapulco makes your adaptation faster on clay court or you think it’s no connection?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: Well, maybe. I play there three matches. I was practicing clay just two days before the tournament because I got there maybe three days before the tournament. And, you know, it was different.

Now I have I don’t know, today is Tuesday, and I start practicing on clay last Sunday. So more than a week. Is different than Acapulco.

But, you know, I think that like I had more time than in Acapulco, and also maybe that tournament helped me to get the rhythm easier and faster.

Q. When and why have you signed a new endorsement with the racquet with Dunlop?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: I do it in Miami, I think. Yeah, in America. Why? Because, you know, we were like watching many brands. I tried Yonex. But I was with problems in clay court. So finally we took the decision to don’t keep playing with Yonex. And then in the United States, the USA, I tried Dunlop. But still we are trying to get a better racquet, no? So we are working on it. But I decide to sign with them for four years I think. I don’t know, four or five.

Q. Are you comfortable with this one?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: Yeah.

Q. Better than the last one?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: You know, I think we are still working together with the racquet. I hope to get like the perfect racquet for Roland Garros. That’s the goal.

Q. Can you talk about the French guys, their level since the beginning of the season, and what are their chances on clay?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: The chances on clay from the French players?

Q. Yes.

FERNANDO VERDASCO: Well, I think that they have like many good players. They are in a great level. But, yeah, maybe they are more like hard court players normally than clay court players. At the same time they could play also good on clay. Benneteau did quarterfinals in Roland Garros one year. Tsonga last year. You know, they are like so talent players, almost all the French guys. So I think that they can do it good in all the surface.

But normally they get adapt easier I think for the hard court, no, like Benneteau, Llodra, like Tsonga, Simon, almost all of them. But I think that they can do also good results on clay.

Q. Talent is one thing, but what do they have to improve the most? Their mental and physical?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: I don’t know. I don’t know how they are mentally. I don’t speak about that with them.

Q. But sometimes if you have to face them…

FERNANDO VERDASCO: You know, I think they have one style of game, and maybe, like I said, they play more flat than you supposed to play on clay court. I don’t really know. I also don’t like to speak about another players.

Q. Would you say at this moment Monfils has the best chance on clay of the French?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: Now he’s injured. But if you put all the French players on the best shape, hundred percent, I think he’s the one who made better results on clay. He did semifinals in Paris, and last year quarters, no? So I think also his style of game is more for clay. He’s so solid on the baseline, he’s so fast. Also he play like with more spin than maybe Benneteau, Llodra, Tsonga even. But Tsonga, he has very good serve, very good forehand. With this he can win matches in all surfaces.

But I think Monfils, if I have to say one, I will take Monfils for clay, if I need to take a partner for my team. It’s not just like play his tennis, but if I need to do it.

Pre-Tournament Interview

and pictures from the Players Party…

…and the Pre-Tournament Press Conference

…where he talked a bit about Rafa:

“He’s not won a title since Rome and that’s not normal. It’s strange to people. He’s supposed to win every event, or almost every event, but now things are getting more equal among top players. Anyone can beat anyone, it’s not like a year ago when Nadal and Federer dominated. But Rafa remains number one on the clay and he’s still the player to beat at every event on this surface.”

Article also mentions that Fernando’s been recovering from his sciatic nerve problem thanks to rehab and exercise.

Fernando plays Julien Benneteau second up on center court tomorrow :)

Fernando’s start to the upcoming clay season is in a bit of question as he’s been dealing with some nagging injuries that may prevent him from playing at the Monte Carlo Masters.

A recurring back injury and a nagging sciatic nerve injury may put his upcoming clay season on hold. He plans to visit the doctor of the Spanish Federation, Angel Ruiz Cotorro, for an accurate diagnosis and treatment when he arrives back in Spain.

“The truth is I do not know what to do. Maybe I should stop and recover, or continue with discomfort and trying to defend the Monte Carlo points that way. I had an MRI in Las Vegas, before playing in Indian Wells. The problem affects me in the sciatic nerve of the leg. It’s not much pain walking or running, but when the game is long, it gets worse. Depending on what the doctor says, I’ll see if I can play in Monte Carlo, Rome.”

Fernando also lamented missed opportunities in his quarterfinal loss against Tomas Berdych.

“Knowing that was not Roger, but Berdych that I was playing, I should’ve taken my opportunities. With Federer, normally he is beating me, but Berdych, he is behind me in the rankings, so it was a good opportunity. It was difficult with the wind to get the timing right, hitting the center of the strings. I could not play great tennis. He hits flat, deep, very hard. At the same time, it is difficult for him to be consistent like this all the time, and that is why he is only in the top 20 of the world and not the top ten.”

(translated via la aficion)

Fernando will replace Gael Monfils in next week’s Abierto Mexicano Telcel, according to the tournament’s website. Gael had to withdraw from the tournament due to swelling in his knee, so Fernando stepped in to take his place. This means he’ll also displace Fernando Gonzalez as top seed.

This is Fernando second trip to Acapulco. His first was back in 2004, when he reached the final (losing to compatriot Carlos Moya)

(via albierto mexicano)

VERDASCO ON TOP
by Sebastian del Marmol

Some people never know what they were destined to be. Fernando Verdasco knew before he turned 1. Or at least according to a Verdasco family legend, which tells the story of a crying baby who could only be placated by the rhythmic thumping of a tennis ball on television.

“I don’t know if it was the sound of the ball or what, but when they put on a match I stopped crying. From that point forward, every time I cried they put tennis on,” Fernando says.

Since then, the 26-year-old athlete has gone on to have a successful tennis career, consistently ranking in the top 15 in the ATP World Singles rankings. So how does Verdasco stay in shape?

He’s got legs like tree trunks and knows that to succeed on the court he has to be strong all over, but Verdasco is all about what’s up top. “I like to work the upper body, shoulders, back. They are very important for tennis,” he says, preferring rows, flies and presses. And it shows, too. He generates about the most topspin on tour (rivaling Nadal) thanks to his upper-body strength and the torque it creates on his groundstrokes.

When it comes to nutrition, Fernando has good roots—his family owns three restaurants in his hometown of Madrid. He avoids junk food and greasy items in favor of a varied diet (veggies, pasta, meat and chicken) for adequate nutrition. “If you eat only lettuce, you won’t be able to hit a ball.”

Recently, Verdasco, who is featured in the new Montenegro Method DVD Series, had a chance to test out a series of exercise routines developed by Marta Montenegro. “I’ve made Marta’s exercises part of my daily routine. I enjoy all of them,” he says. You can view some of those exercises in our photo gallery.

Fernando will be featured in the March/April 2010 issue of SOBeFiT Magazine.

(via SOBeFiT)

With so much talk about bringing a World Cup to tennis and many of the top players backing the idea, you might be wondering which of them, if any, still want to keep the Davis Cup.

Well, never fear because Fernando is one of the first players to speak out in support of Davis Cup. While he didn’t explicitly rule out a world cup, it’s clear just how much Davis Cup means to Fernando.

“I don’t really know about World Cup tennis, but I can say that I really enjoy playing Davis Cup.

The last two years I’ve won with my country so for me it is very special. I will always support the Davis Cup but I know the schedule is so tight and it’s so tough to play all the ties and all the tournaments. We’ll see what is the best choice and try to get it as best as possible for everyone.”

And this one, from another article:

I do not know what they’re thinking, Djokovic, Rafa, or whoever else. They have not talked to me about the format or the way they want to change things. I would like an earlier finish to the season, but Davis Cup is something that has given me a lot of joy, having won it the last two years. It is very special to me. Getting rid of Davis Cup is something I do not like.

You could perhaps remove the weeks of less important tournaments, some 250 tournaments, or make the final of the Davis Cup in early November and then put the 250 tournaments at the end of the month, since you would not need the top ten to play these tournaments.

I think we can we can reach a solution without changing the Davis Cup.”

(via sydney morning herald & nacion.com)

N. DAVYDENKO/F. Verdasco, 6-2, 7-5, 4-6, 6-7⁵, 6-3

An interview with: FERNANDO VERDASCO

Q. Two sets to love down. How hard is it to come back from that situation?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: So hard. It’s very difficult to come back always when the match is like this.

But you don’t need to think about that. If you think that, you have even more difficult situation. You must just try to keep playing and don’t think about that you are like this, no, that you were two sets to love.

You need to keep trying and trying all the time and don’t think too much about the other things.

Q. Did you think you had the game of the match when you were two sets all?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: You know, at the beginning of the fifth set, he looks like more tired than all the match before, all the sets before. But, you know, he really stayed there all the time. He serve good in one game with 30‑All. I made unbelievable return forehand so hard, and he touch the ball back and put the ball just to the line.

You know, it was ‑‑ I know that ‑‑ I think that the beginning of the fifth set I could have my chance, no, to maybe break him and take the advantage in the fifth set. Maybe he start to make more mistakes. You never know, no? But he really stay there in the fifth set, even though he was looking more tired than usual and making more mistakes.

Both of us was tired, no? It was hot out there, and it was a long match. So we both run a lot, so it was hard for both, no, to stay physically the same in the fifth set.

Q. Are you playing as well as this time last year when you had the five setter with Nadal?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: No, I think I played much better today. It was different, no? It was semifinals, and today was fourth round. Today was the first day with a really tough player, no? Last year I was already with Murray and Tsonga playing before Nadal.

With Nadal I played much better than with Murray in fourth round. So I think that in this tournaments you are getting better and better every match.

Today I start playing much worse than I played, for example, in the third or in the fourth. But in the fifth, my legs was not going the same, also his.

I was not able to play the same like maybe in the third or fourth set.

Q. Do you think he’s looming as a potential champion? Is he playing good enough tennis?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: I think it’s a tough question, because I think that in five sets players like Rafa or Federer, they have more chances, no? I think that he need to beat Federer, for example, that normally if Federer wins Hewitt tonight it’s gonna be quarterfinals. I think he must play unbelievable to beat Federer in five sets.

I think that Federer and Nadal in five sets are better than the rest. That’s why they always normally win all the Grand Slams. Davydenko, Murray and the guys just behind them, I think they’re not that level. Maybe they can beat them, but it’s tough, no? They had more experience, no, in tough matches. Nadal, for example, in finals in Wimbledon, Roland Garros, many times. It’s tough.

And Davydenko is, for example, like I was saying in the fifth set and fourth set he was looking more tired and making more mistakes. But today when I was like deuce in the beginning of the fifth set, he serve very good. Or when I was with any chance, no, he came back and he was out of the tough situation really good.

I think with players like Federer or Nadal, he will ‑‑ I don’t know. If I need to bet, I will bet more for Federer in five sets, or for Rafa to win the tournament.

But you never know. Davydenko is also playing very good.

Q. What do you need to do to get to that level of Rafa and Roger?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: Think it’s experience, no? Today was a tough match. I came back from two sets to love and I was playing much better. But, you know, I was not able to make the break at the beginning of the fifth set, take advance, and maybe break his game a little bit more, no?

So if I was able to make the break at the beginning of the fifth set, maybe he’s supposed to go for something more and he start to even make more mistakes than he was doing at the time. But I couldn’t do it, and he stays very good on the fifth set.
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F. VERDASCO/S. Koubek, 6-1, RET

An interview with: FERNANDO VERDASCO

Q. Is it disappointing that you didn’t get more match time, that the match finished early? Would you have liked to have a little bit more?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: For one part for sure. I want to play more to get more rhythm for the next round. If I win, of course. But it’s not bad also to win fast, no, and have one day even more to recover. Because the next round is gonna be so difficult against Davydenko.

Of course you never want one guy to play sick and to feel like this, no? But it’s also good and I have more rest, no, for important match in fourth round.

Q. Will you have to change your preparation for the next match in any way?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: I will go now to practice.

Q. When did you notice that he was in trouble? Did you know at all?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: No, I didn’t know. I was just focus on myself. I didn’t know that he was sick for two days. You know, he just call the doctor and he retire straightaway.

So I didn’t know that he was like that.
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